I had a chance recently to try Dial® 7 Day Moisturizing Lotion via Popsugar Sample Squad. A full size plastic bottle with pump dispenser arrived to sample, and I was excited to see if it was different or more effective than other lotions. The flavor I received was "Skin Therapy", which the label says
contains Himalayan pink salts which contain more than 80 trace minerals.
According to atthemeadow.com:
"Himalayan sea salt was formed after an
ancient ocean dried up about 600 million years ago, in an ancient era
before life as we know it today had appeared on earth. Himalayan salt is
known for its healing properties and is used by health professionals,
spas and individuals who are interested in utilizing natural products to
heal the body and relax the mind. For centuries, salts have been used
as folk remedies for a variety of health issues. Stimulating
circulation, lowering blood pressure and removing toxins such as heavy
metals from the body are just a few of the many benefits of Himalayan
Salt.
I read a little about the Himalyan pink salts online and understand that it is a highly prized flavoring salt of foodies and chefs. It was interesting to me that Dial was using the salt as an ingredient in a topical moisturizer and advertising the benefits of the mineral composition for the skin. Intriguing!
The first thing I noticed about the Dial lotion was the texture - very nice! I like a lotion that goes on smoothly, without feeling greasy or not absorbing quickly. No worries there - the lotion was light and clean feeling, and spread easily. I will admit that the scent didn't really capture my imagination. It is very routine - I think it smells very typical. There is nothing about the scent that set it apart or made it seem the least bit exotic as the Himalayan salts would suggest. Light, but run of the mill
The ads for the lotion say it: "moisturizes and penetrates the skin while keeping it
hydrated for up to seven days.... After two
weeks of use, the lotion will absorb and deliver 7-days of moisture".
I liked this moisturizer, although I am not sure that I can say it kept my skin hydrated for 7 days as advertised. Since I use a moisturizer every day, it was really more important to me that the lotion goes on nicely and feels good - not heavy, greasy or non absorbing. On those criteria, Dial 7 Day Moisturizer delivers.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Contagious Book Review
I read Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger looking
for an explanation of the phenomenon of why some ads, videos, or news stories go viral. I received a complimentary copy of the book to read through BzzAgent,
and I was excited that a book had been written about the subject matter.
I have recently become involved in product testing and the corresponding social media marketing, so I was
looking forward to reading it because this topic seems so timely and appeals to my interests.
I liked this book! I found it to be an easy read with easily understood examples and explanations. I thought it was well laid out and appreciated the many anecdotal examples illustrating why things catch on. I found the acronym "STEPPS" to be helpful for remembering the various elements that Jonah Berger discusses. I found myself thinking "Yes!" when presented with concepts that are very intuitive and yet hard to describe as far as distilling them down to the basic social elements at work.
S - Social Currency: Something that makes you look good to your peers.
T - Triggers: There needs to be something that brings the product or idea to mind.
E - Emotion: Does not always mean a positive emotion, but a feeling about it.
P - Public: Needs to be visible, even if we are talking about something normally private.
P - Practical Value: Is it a good deal? Does not always mean financially.
S - Stories: Content is usually more likely to be passed on if there is a narrative, not just facts.
The various elements that can/should be present for something to be shared by a wide audience were supported by studies and stories to provide explanation and insight. I do not curently own a business, but I can see how distilling the properties of a viral event would make it easier for a business owner or advertising executive to maximize the chances of striking gold and designing a message that would really get out there.
I would recommend this book for people who are looking for some easily understandable ways to enhance their social marketing efforts. I was informed and entertained by the subject matter, and I think that Contagious: Why Things Catch On certainly succeeded as promised.
I liked this book! I found it to be an easy read with easily understood examples and explanations. I thought it was well laid out and appreciated the many anecdotal examples illustrating why things catch on. I found the acronym "STEPPS" to be helpful for remembering the various elements that Jonah Berger discusses. I found myself thinking "Yes!" when presented with concepts that are very intuitive and yet hard to describe as far as distilling them down to the basic social elements at work.
S - Social Currency: Something that makes you look good to your peers.
T - Triggers: There needs to be something that brings the product or idea to mind.
E - Emotion: Does not always mean a positive emotion, but a feeling about it.
P - Public: Needs to be visible, even if we are talking about something normally private.
P - Practical Value: Is it a good deal? Does not always mean financially.
S - Stories: Content is usually more likely to be passed on if there is a narrative, not just facts.
The various elements that can/should be present for something to be shared by a wide audience were supported by studies and stories to provide explanation and insight. I do not curently own a business, but I can see how distilling the properties of a viral event would make it easier for a business owner or advertising executive to maximize the chances of striking gold and designing a message that would really get out there.
I would recommend this book for people who are looking for some easily understandable ways to enhance their social marketing efforts. I was informed and entertained by the subject matter, and I think that Contagious: Why Things Catch On certainly succeeded as promised.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Garnier Olia Hair Color
My review in a nutshell: Two thumbs up!
Color: accurate, Condition: Great!
Now the details for anyone with a longer attention span: I was really excited to try the new Garnier Olia Haircolor. I have been coloring my hair off and on for quite a while (alternating with highlights or doing both) and I have come to think that most haircolor brands are pretty interchangeable. I am partial to Revlon Colorsilk - dependable, inexpensive & predictable. (Also, it is one of the few brands that do not test on animals.) I learned through an introduction from BzzAgent for a free product trial that Garnier Olia uses an oil based formula, which logically seemed like it would provide greater conditioning during the hair coloring process. But would oil allow for good color penetration?
The answer is a glorious “YES”! I have to admit I was high fiving myself in the bathroom while my hair was still WET since I could see that the tone of the color was much less red than haircolor products I have used in the past. Once dry, I could see that the color came out very true to the swatch on the box ( which admittedly can be skewed by the lighting in the store). In my years of past experience, I find that the word “golden” usually means “red” in haircolor parlance, so I try to avoid warm shades so I don’t look orangey in two weeks. I use either “natural” or “cool” shades, all the while secretly longing for a color which is truly “golden” in the strictest sense of the word. Not brassy, not reddish, but GOLD. Well, I think I may have found it!
I used Dark Blonde (7), which I selected after live chatting with an on-line Garnier Consultant. I let her know my concerns about brassiness/redness and she recommended the Dark Blonde. I may get gutsy and try a little bit lighter shade next time as she shared that the Olia products 8 and above use 30 volume developer rather than the 20 volume, but I was happy with the results of the color I chose. It is a little darker than what I had on my hair already (Medium Blonde, which had admittedly gone brassy plus my light brown roots mixed with a little gray and some lighter blonde ends, as I have been playing with ombre trend.) Overall, a great choice and it will undoubtedly lose some saturation with shampooing. It came out very close to the shade shown on the packaging.
On to the process. Directions are simple and straightforward. The whole process was standard operating procedure for anyone who is a haircolor veteran. The only differences were the stylish black plastic gloves provided and a shorter wait time than I am used to. (A plus when the husband may be arriving home at any moment!) Some of the haircolors I have used in the past have a 45-55 minute processing time. The Garnier Olia takes 30 minutes all together. The bottle is nice - I liked it not for the round shape, but the wide mouth, since the first thing I did was dispense the color instead of the developer as instructed. The color has a thicker consistency and would be more likely to stick to the container, possibly preventing a good mix with the developer. The wide mouth let me have better access with a spatula, which I used to really stir up the mixture instead of just shaking it and hoping for the best. The roundness of the container did not add anything for me - it got slippery as I applied the color, and the shape did not make it easier to hold on to. It looked cool, though!
Tick tock, wait for it to be done. The mixture has a nice consistency. It’s thin enough to be able to expel it easily form the applicator, but not so runny it was dripping everywhere. It has a nice scent as advertised. Floral and not a harsh chemical smell. The conditioner is great - sometimes they are hard to rinse out completely, but this one smells wonderful and rinses with a clean feeling. Overall, a good experience!
Very happy with the color as it came out.. Very easy, very good results! Just a last word about the animal testing, though. I can’t help but feel that creation of a new beauty products is not a justifiable excuse to hurt animals. It’s not like this stuff is going to cure cancer or anything. So I am not sure if my vanity or morality will win out over this one for making a permanent switch.
Color: accurate, Condition: Great!
Now the details for anyone with a longer attention span: I was really excited to try the new Garnier Olia Haircolor. I have been coloring my hair off and on for quite a while (alternating with highlights or doing both) and I have come to think that most haircolor brands are pretty interchangeable. I am partial to Revlon Colorsilk - dependable, inexpensive & predictable. (Also, it is one of the few brands that do not test on animals.) I learned through an introduction from BzzAgent for a free product trial that Garnier Olia uses an oil based formula, which logically seemed like it would provide greater conditioning during the hair coloring process. But would oil allow for good color penetration?
The answer is a glorious “YES”! I have to admit I was high fiving myself in the bathroom while my hair was still WET since I could see that the tone of the color was much less red than haircolor products I have used in the past. Once dry, I could see that the color came out very true to the swatch on the box ( which admittedly can be skewed by the lighting in the store). In my years of past experience, I find that the word “golden” usually means “red” in haircolor parlance, so I try to avoid warm shades so I don’t look orangey in two weeks. I use either “natural” or “cool” shades, all the while secretly longing for a color which is truly “golden” in the strictest sense of the word. Not brassy, not reddish, but GOLD. Well, I think I may have found it!
I used Dark Blonde (7), which I selected after live chatting with an on-line Garnier Consultant. I let her know my concerns about brassiness/redness and she recommended the Dark Blonde. I may get gutsy and try a little bit lighter shade next time as she shared that the Olia products 8 and above use 30 volume developer rather than the 20 volume, but I was happy with the results of the color I chose. It is a little darker than what I had on my hair already (Medium Blonde, which had admittedly gone brassy plus my light brown roots mixed with a little gray and some lighter blonde ends, as I have been playing with ombre trend.) Overall, a great choice and it will undoubtedly lose some saturation with shampooing. It came out very close to the shade shown on the packaging.
On to the process. Directions are simple and straightforward. The whole process was standard operating procedure for anyone who is a haircolor veteran. The only differences were the stylish black plastic gloves provided and a shorter wait time than I am used to. (A plus when the husband may be arriving home at any moment!) Some of the haircolors I have used in the past have a 45-55 minute processing time. The Garnier Olia takes 30 minutes all together. The bottle is nice - I liked it not for the round shape, but the wide mouth, since the first thing I did was dispense the color instead of the developer as instructed. The color has a thicker consistency and would be more likely to stick to the container, possibly preventing a good mix with the developer. The wide mouth let me have better access with a spatula, which I used to really stir up the mixture instead of just shaking it and hoping for the best. The roundness of the container did not add anything for me - it got slippery as I applied the color, and the shape did not make it easier to hold on to. It looked cool, though!
Tick tock, wait for it to be done. The mixture has a nice consistency. It’s thin enough to be able to expel it easily form the applicator, but not so runny it was dripping everywhere. It has a nice scent as advertised. Floral and not a harsh chemical smell. The conditioner is great - sometimes they are hard to rinse out completely, but this one smells wonderful and rinses with a clean feeling. Overall, a good experience!
Very happy with the color as it came out.. Very easy, very good results! Just a last word about the animal testing, though. I can’t help but feel that creation of a new beauty products is not a justifiable excuse to hurt animals. It’s not like this stuff is going to cure cancer or anything. So I am not sure if my vanity or morality will win out over this one for making a permanent switch.
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